Popular Western Music Band Rankings [2026]

We Will Rock YouQueen1rank/position

Queen – We Will Rock You (Official Video)

A classic hit by the world-famous rock band QUEEN.

The rhythm stamped out with feet and hands is iconic, and when this song plays, your body just starts moving on its own.

The song itself is two minutes long and ends by repeating the same phrase over and over.

Keeping the rhythm precisely is crucial.

The opening melody can get a bit fast, so it might help to slow the playback speed on YouTube and practice.

Also, the vocal range is narrow and can be sung entirely in chest voice, so sing comfortably without straining or belting.

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High HopesPanic! At The Disco2rank/position

Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes (Official Video)

Panic! At The Disco continues to be loved beyond the bounds of emo and pop rock.

Showcasing Brendon Urie’s overwhelming vocal prowess, “High Hopes” is a masterpiece that celebrates the nobility of setting lofty goals and chasing your dreams.

Carrying his mother’s words in his heart, it conveys a strong determination to never give up and seize success even in difficult situations.

The song is included on the album “Pray for the Wicked,” released in June 2018, and drew attention through numerous tie-ins, such as Honda’s Accord commercial and the game NHL 19.

When you feel like you’re about to falter at work or in your studies, or on a decisive morning when you want to fire yourself up, listening to it will surely fill you with strength.

Be sure to check it out.

Don’t Look Back In AngerOasis3rank/position

Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger (Official Video)

Oasis, emblematic of the UK music scene in the ’90s and back in the global spotlight after announcing their reunion in August 2024.

Released as a single in February 1996 and selling over three million copies in the UK, this song is an eternal anthem in rock history.

It’s also famous for featuring Noel Gallagher on vocals instead of his brother Liam, who usually takes the mic.

The message, “Don’t look back in anger,” became a beacon of hope that helped soothe people’s grief after the incident in Manchester in May 2017.

At their miraculous 2025 reunion shows, it sparked massive sing-alongs once again.

The moment that opening piano rings out, it creates a moving atmosphere that makes everyone want to link arms and sing their hearts out together.

Viva La VidaColdplay4rank/position

Coldplay – Viva La Vida (Official Video)

This is a song by the British rock band Coldplay, whose grand strings portray the sorrow of a king who has lost his power, striking straight at the heart.

Released in May 2008 from the album “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends,” many will remember it for winning Song of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards.

You may also have heard it in Apple’s iPod commercials.

Among fans, it enjoys overwhelming popularity as “majestic yet bittersweet,” and “like an anthem for life.” The protagonist’s emptiness—“I once ruled the world, and now I sleep alone”—echoes the hollow feeling that can follow great success.

Reflecting on the fragility of life revealed only after reaching the top makes you want to cherish the happiness you have now.

It’s My LifeBon Jovi5rank/position

Bon Jovi – It’s My Life (Official Music Video)

A powerful rock anthem brimming with the determination to carve out one’s own life.

It’s included on Bon Jovi’s 2000 album Crush, and became a song that symbolizes the band’s new golden era.

The talk box-driven guitar sound by Richie Sambora and references to a couple from their earlier classics have electrified everyone from longtime fans to a new generation.

Nominated at the 43rd Grammy Awards, the track has continued to be loved across eras, even being reinterpreted in recent years as the theme for Commonwealth Bank’s 2025 campaign.

It’s the perfect song to listen to at a make-or-break moment or when you need to fire yourself up—it’s sure to give you that push you need!

Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana6rank/position

Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video)

Nirvana’s biggest hit, which shook the rock world to its core in 1991.

Opening their second album Nevermind, this track makes a powerful impact with its “quiet–loud” structure, moving from subdued verses to explosive choruses.

Despite its simple, power-chord-driven riff, Kurt Cobain’s searing, soul-baring vocals intertwine with Dave Grohl’s powerful drumming to create a truly one-of-a-kind sound.

At the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, it won both Best New Artist and Best Alternative Video.

It also ranked an impressive No.

5 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

It’s a timeless classic that not only resonates with those in their 50s who felt its real-time shock but is also essential listening for anyone who wants to experience the origins of grunge.

Sweet Child O’ MineGuns N’ Roses7rank/position

Choir! Choir! Choir! sings Gn’R “Sweet Child O’ Mine”

The love song, which begins with a powerful guitar riff and features a beautiful melody and a moving vocal performance, was released in June 1988 as a single from the 1987 album Appetite for Destruction.

For the American hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, this work became their first No.

1 hit in the United States, and it has been loved across generations, appearing in films such as Thor: Love and Thunder.

It was also performed during their Japan tour in May 2025, sending the venue into a frenzy.

Reimagined as a choral piece, it could reveal a new charm that harmonizes the raw energy of hard rock with the gentleness of a ballad.

Having the entire class sing it together would create a deeply moving, heartfelt stage.